Dionysius of Tell Mahre, Patriarch of Antioch

Dionysius of Tell Mahre

Mor Dionysius I of Tell Mahre, the seventieth Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, was a great and unique church dignitary deeply versed in knowledge. He was born at Tell Mahre to a noble and wealthy Edessene family and became famous at the beginning of the seventh century for his great contribution to the church of Edessa. At Qenneshrin he studied philology, jurisprudence, philosophy and theology and entered monastic life. In 818, forty eight metropolitans and bishops unanimously elected him to the Apostolic See, while he was still a novice monk. where he adorned his high office with his piety, honest belief, deep understanding, wide knowledge and firm will. For twenty seven years, he administered the affairs of the church with great energy, discerning policy, sound judgment and graceful patience. He held three councils at Callinicus in 818, another council at Ouspholis in 828 and another at Takrit in 834. He also issued canons and consecrated a hundred metropolitans whose names are cited by Michael the Great. After leading a dignified life, but one bothered by sufferings inflicted on his people by the unjust rulers, he died on the twenty second of August, 845.

One of his writings is the magnificent Chronicles, covering the period from 583 to 843, which he compiled at the request of Youhana, metropolitan of Dara. It consists of two volumes, each divided into eight treatises, which in turn are divided into chapters, covering the events of 260 years. Michael the Great utilized the Chronicles to a great extent and enriched his history, by incorporating Dionysius' introduction in its entirety to it. He also added to it the events of these Chronicles. The original copy of these Chronicles was lost, except for two or three chapters, but its compendium has survived. The Chronicles of Dionysius also contains an interesting description of the pyramids, as well as the condition of the Coptic Church which welcomed him and his acceptance by the Patriarch Jacob and his bishop outside the city of Tannis in 833. These accounts were incorporated by Bar Hebraeus into his Ecclesiastical History. It was mentioned before that Assemani had erroneously ascribed to Dionysius the history written by the monk of Zuqnin. 

Dionysius issued twelve canons at the council of Callinicus, preceded by a distinguished proclamation immediately after his consecration.